Slipping or being pushed by a psycho onto the subway tracks is every New Yorkers nightmare.
Check out today’s story about how to survive if you find yourself on the tracks with a 6 train barreling towards you. Take it from Daniel Silverio, you can survive.
While reporting this story, one veteran New York City Transit had some solid advice. Over the years, he said, four of his co-workers were killed working in the tunnels. Parts of advice conflicts with World’s Worst-Case Scenario co-author David Borgenicht.
Here’s his e-mail with minor editing:
“From my experience if a person falls in the platform and a train is oncoming the best thing to do is lay in the middle of the trains. We call that area the gauge or trough. It is indeed the lowest part of the tracks and where the belly of the train is the highest. If there is no oncoming train the person should go to either end of the platform which is closest. There is a ladder on both ends that will bring them back up.
I would really advise not to attempt jumping back on the platform. It is very deceiving. It is not as easy as many think and one can seriously hurt themselves if they "re-fall." The tracks are very unforgiving and the steel of the rails will cause seriously pain.
Also, if there is time, a person can simply stand between the steel columns between tracks or against the "niches" in the wall on the track level. Those are clearance from the train, however, the person may have to step over the third rail, which is dangerous. The most recommended method would be to lay between rails.
I would say to never lay under the platform, on both sides of the trains, there are metal “shoes” that stick out 33” from train. Those “shoes” are used to ride on top of the third rail and are always energized with juice. Coming in contact with the “shoe” is the same as touching the third rail.”
On the union-MTA front today, Juan Gonzalez of the News today takes an interesting look at the final vote tally of the rank-and-file’s vote against the contract.
-- Chuck Bennett
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The New York City subway system is a fascinating, wonderful and ever-changing place.